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Arts and Sciences | Bell TowerOctober 15, 2024

When the Artist Lives Next Door

As part of its commitment to providing students with transformative experiences, the  University of ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ – Fort Smith offers a level of exposure typically accessible to graduate-level students to undergrad art and design majors.  

Through a 2021 $7.8 million gift from the Windgate Foundation, the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Art & Design program established and created the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Art & Design Artist in Residence (AIR) program. Now in its third year, the program continues to be a pillar for nurturing productive student and community engagement.

Unlike other programs, AIR does not require the artist – selected from an applicant pool through a rigorous application process – to pay any fees or tuition for their semester-long residency. The selected artist receives a $20,000 stipend, materials budget, private living accommodations near campus, and workspace and studio access in Windgate Art & Design. Additionally, the artists are not required to teach; their work toward completing and presenting a culminating event is paramount.

While artists are not required to teach, they are integrated within the department, explained Dr. Katie Waugh, department head and associate professor.

"They're meeting with different courses across the curriculum. They're not teaching just one class; they're meeting with multiple classes and getting more contact with more students," she said.

With an artist in residence, students don't have to wait until graduate school for a first-hand connection or mentorship with a professional artist.

"It's important for our students to immediately see what a version of their future could look like. … It's helpful for students to know where they're headed. If they do not have meaningful contacts with working artists of various backgrounds until graduate school, they may not know it's possible to take that path. It's important for students to see that early on," said Waugh.

The program is also community-oriented.

Artists will conduct workshops, programming, public lectures, and a public exhibition during their residency. Through the various outreach initiatives, art and the community collide.

 "It introduces people to new types of art and ways to think about art," explained Gallery of Art & Design Director Dr. Matt Bailey. "We want to foster a creative community."

In its three years of operation, the program has received national and international attention, as evidenced by the artists who have been selected.

Graphic designer Alex Williamson served as the model for the AIR program. Williamson's time featured a collaboration of ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ faculty and staff to "materialize his visions," Bailey said. It also highlighted a unique connection to the city's history, featuring an exhibit at the Bakery District when Bill Hanna donated space for the university's use.

Recently, the program brought in Katina Bitsicas, a professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and Katya Grokhovsky, a native of Ukraine based in New York City.

The program will soon welcome Martin Venezky, who, after retiring from a career as a graphic design professor, went back to school and received his Master of Fine Arts degree in photography.

"I think he's going to be exciting to have here; … (he) mirrors the two trajectories where students can choose a studio art or graphic design approach. … He'll be able to help students learn from his experience and through mentorship," said Waugh.

Bitsicas' work will also return to ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ in the fall of 2025. Her work will be featured in the Gallery of Art & Design for a solo exhibit featuring the continuation of the work she began while in the AIR program.

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